OCCUPY WALL STREET

[dykeumentary]

Originally Posted by guihong

I have a few questions about OWS's mission, and I mean no snark, but it's been bothering me:

1. Let's say I become wealthy purely on hard work and a good idea or three (I'm not, but hypothetically). Does this make me one of the "few"? And if OWS is for income redistribution, exactly how much would I have to distribute, and why? If I manage to get rich, no one should be allowed to tell me differently or what I can do with my earnings. (I'm not talking about charity-which many billionaires create and/or support).

2. Along that idea, would there be a maximum salary any one person could earn? And if so, who would enforce this, since OWS seems not to have any one leader?

3. Most of us wouldn't be here if some of the "few" in England hadn't decided to start a colony, the purpose of which was to make a profit. I think that's a fairly common human motivation-making a profit. How does this jibe with OWS's theories of equality?

4. I saw some of the most appalling poverty in communist China-supposedly a society set up with far more equality than our own. Yet there, and in Russia, there were always a "few" and a whole lot of "many". Is the kind of society OWS envisions even possible, if income equality and redistribution taken to its extreme doesn't work?

5. Why isn't OWS really protesting in Washington, at the government that passed the regulations that ultimately created this situation?

I am not starting a fight, but I thought of these questions-and more-this weekend. And before I support any movement, I want to know what it is I'm supporting behind the slogans.

No, you are not starting a fight. We were born into it. Each person has to decide for themselves how much injustice they can ignore.
Let's put your arguments into in a 19th century historical context and see if they hold up.

1. If I become a wealthy plantation owner, does this mean I have to share my wealth with women? Aren't I doing enough by using their exploited labor to fund a tax write-off "charity" for the ones who aren't producing profit for me? This way at least they are of some use to me.

2. Will someone impose an upward limit on my greed? Who would do that? Women don't even have a clear leader!

3. Europeans colonized North America to exploit resources, including women. Why should we stop now? It's the American way.

4.Women in other places are treated worse. Therefore women in 19th century USA have it good enough and should be quiet. If women are given rights. everything will go wrong. I'm just fine with the status quo.

5. Why aren't the protesters far away from me, so I can continue oppressing women. I don't want women in my region getting any "big ideas!" Shouldn't women be home cooking and making me babies?


Don't let the arc of history hit you in the butt as it bends towards justice. Or something like that.